The Southern Tier Startup Alliance (STSA) is a member organization of business incubators in the Southern Tier region, working to promote startups and entrepreneurship resources in our region.

Our objective is to help increase the number of jobs in the region by supporting new, scalable businesses, thus diversifying the employment base and strengthening the economy.

In 2017:

23

New Deals

STSA Supported

$23.9M

Financing Deals

Closed

18

Investors

New to the Southern Tier Region

29

Total Groups

Investing in the Southern Tier

Partner Incubators

IncubatorWorks Corning

Rev: Ithaca Startup Works

McGovern Center at Cornell University

Koffman Southern Tier Incubator

Binghamton University Start-Up Suites

Praxis Center for Venture Development

New York’s Southern Tier is a leading area for high-tech manufacturing, university research and development, and food science/agricultural technology. STSA leverages the region’s best assets — including a partnership between top research institutions like Cornell University and Binghamton University, and Corning Enterprises — combined with mentorship and connections to capital, enabling our member startups to grow and scale rapidly.

The Southern Tier has more to offer entrepreneurs and innovators than resources, though. Our quality of life and cost of living can’t be beat. Young companies looking for room to grow, access to trained talent, and supportive spaces will find what they need in our region — with beautiful outdoor spaces just a step away.

Our Focus

The Southern Tier Startup Alliance has programs to support entrepreneurs at all stages of starting and scaling, but our main focus areas are:

Clean Energy

Together with state and federal partners, the Southern Tier Startup Alliance is committed to supporting the growth of a vibrant clean energy ecosystem in our region.

Manufacturing & Hardware

Xerox, IBM, and Corning Incorporated are just a few of the companies that have grown out of our region. The Southern Tier Startup Alliance works to leverage this legacy of manufacturing and product entrepreneurship with new, innovative partnerships.

Food/Ag Tech

Seven million acres of New York State is farmland – much of it in or near the Southern Tier. Working with regional and institutions like Cornell University and the SUNY network, the Southern Tier Startup Alliance is helping to promote food science and agricultural technology entrepreneurship.

Greg Thomson is an attorney and strategic advisor based in Ithaca and New York City, with over 20 years of experience in digital media, entertainment and technology. He also serves as Strategic Advisor to Cornell’s Center for Technology Licensing.

Greg has headed business development for venture-financed startup companies including the S.R. Guggenheim Foundation’s digital media company and Sports Museums of America, and also held a senior business development position at NBCi in San Francisco. He began his post-MBA career as a communications /media/technology strategy consultant with PwC’s Strategy& in New York.

As a media industry lawyer and executive, Greg headed business affairs for LA-based Quincy Jones Productions, served as VP of Partnerships for Discovery Communications, and has represented clients including Dr. Dre, Youssou N’Dour, and the Estate of Gil Scott-Heron. He has also served as an entertainment economics expert witness in major entertainment industry litigation, including on behalf of the City of Los Angeles in the federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by heirs of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G.

Cook is an active attorney in the greater Ithaca community, and he represents businesses and individuals in connection with a wide array of complex commercial business and real estate transactions. Cook has also served as a visiting lecturer at the Johnson School at Cornell University where he taught a course focused on entrepreneurship and early-stage finance and venture capital transactions. In addition to practicing law and teaching, Cook serves as mentor for the 76West Clean Energy Competition and a judge for Cornell Law School’s Transactional Lawyering Competition.

Cook started his law practice at Ballard Spahr, LLP, a national law firm with more than 650 attorneys in 15 offices accross the country. He’s also been a member of Fox Rothschild, LLP and served as the president of First Excelsior Group from 2012-2016. Prior to joining Rev, Cook was a member of a local law firm in Ithaca. Throughout his career, Cook has represented a diverse group of clients including publicly-traded corporations, middle market companies, and emerging technology startups. Cook regularly counsels companies on corporate governance, fund raising, M&A transactions, and protection of intellectual property.

Cook has served on the board of directors of several private companies and non-profits. He is currently a trustee of the Paleontological Research Institution, which operates the Museum of the Earth, the Cayuga Nature Center, and Smith Woods, and a member of the board of directors of Upstate Capital, a trade association for venture capitalists and other capital providers across upstate New York.

Brandon Wright

Brandon is a serial entrepreneur, most recently co-founder and CEO at Zibby. Zibby is a mission-driven finance company helping retailers sell life’s necessities to 100M nonprime consumers seamlessly through every channel, from online to in-store. Zibby customers that demonstrate creditworthy behaviors graduate to more attractive financing terms over time.

Brandon’s landed his first job with a top-10 asset management team at Smith Barney, but quickly transitioned from analyzing companies to building them. He co-founded and successfully exited companies in residential mortgage, multi-family real estate, and retail coffee, all in the Pacific Northwest.

Wright has co-founded business associations and served on mayoral advisory committees for economic development. He graduated from Whitman College with an undergraduate degree in Economics and received his MBA from Cornell University in 2012.

Susan Fleming

Dr. Fleming is an experienced executive, educator, speaker, angel investor, and mom. In the first twelve years of her career, Fleming advanced from an Analyst at Morgan Stanley to Partner at an $1.85 billion private equity fund. During this time, she was struck by the lack of women in leadership positions and decided to take action. She pursued a Ph.D. at Cornell in management, focusing on gender bias in the business world and how to reduce it. Today, she speaks across the U.S. on these issues.

Fleming has served on the board of directors of numerous publicly traded companies, private companies, and non-profits. She also served as a senior lecturer for both Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration and Johnson Graduate School of Management, teaching entrepreneurship, finance, women in leadership and negotiations courses, as well as running several business competitions and Cornell’s university-wide minor in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Prior to joining the business world, Fleming obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. As a resident of Ithaca, NY, she is excited to draw on her deep knowledge of entrepreneurship, finance, leadership and culture to help more local startups build effective and inclusive organizations that will drive long-term growth and value creation for their founders, their investors and the community.

Elisa Miller-Out

Currently, Miller-Out serves as the managing partner at Chloe Capital, a seed stage venture capital investment fund focused on women-led technology companies. She’s also co-founder of PollQ, a chatbot polling tool for higher education, and a board member at Women 2.0, the leading media brand for women in tech.

In 2016, Elisa oversaw a successful acquisition deal with a division of Singlebrook, a custom software services firm that she co-founded and led as CEO for over 10 years. She is the company’s CFO as well as chair of the board. Singlebrook has Fortune 500, higher education, and nonprofit clients from around the world including: Cornell, Yale, Henry Schein, Hitachi, the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, and more.

Prior to starting Singlebrook, Elisa founded two other companies and worked in a variety of industries in New York City. She has also launched several networking groups and regularly serves as a mentor and judge for startup accelerators and competitions. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Barnard College of Columbia University. Learn more at www.elisamillerout.com.

Max Henry

Max Henry is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) serving startup members of Rev: Ithaca Startup Works and he is part of Cornell AgriTech’s Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture in Geneva, NY.

Henry is the founder and president of Humming Bird Leadership and serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence for NextCorps in Rochester, NY. His former experience includes serving as president and CEO of multiple companies including Topica (internet marketing), PrivateExpress (digital courier delivery company), Fabrik Communications (business messaging company, sold to Critical Path), and JSB Corporation (global software company, sold as SurfControl to Websense).

Previously, he served as vice president and general manager of Information Access Company (sold to Thomson), executive vice president and general manager of U.S. Telestar, and vice president and general manager of NeXT Computer (sold to Apple), where he was a direct report to Steve Jobs and was part of the executive policy team. Henry has served on numerous boards of directors and advisory boards and is currently board chairman at InfoStreet, an Inc 500 SaaS company.

Henry holds an MBA degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Hobart College.

ZYMtronix

From lab to market, ZYMtronix turned university cutting-edge university research into a startup focused on enzyme immobilization and biocatalysis. Their “green chemistry” processes enable stable, affordable manufacturing of molecules for food scientists and other industries.

From basement to big-time, Emmy’s is an example of scalable food entrepreneurship in our region. This cookie company started in a basement – and their gluten-free, organic treats can now be found at Whole Foods and Starbucks around the nation.

The Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST) is a pro-active leader, committed to enhancing the economic strength of the region, by acting as a primary resource for information and assistance to promote manufacturing excellence. MAST is committed to assuring the best possible business environment for manufacturing to prosper.

Funded by a grant from the EDA. The program combines the region’s assets in engineering, materials science, and manufacturing with cutting-edge business incubation, acceleration, and entrepreneurship theory to foster entrepreneurs and quicken the development of product-oriented startups.

Taitem Engineering

Taitem Engineering applies technology thoughtfully for the benefit of the earth and for the living beings that depend on it. Their team specializes in mechanical, electrical and structural design for green buildings, commissioning, LEED consulting, energy studies, solar pv design and installation, and more. Taitem is just one of the regional partners helping to grow the Southern Tier’s clean energy ecosystem.

This business plan competition, created by NYSERDA, is designed to build clean energy businesses and jobs in the Southern Tier region. The competition offers $20 million in prize money and support services, including a $1 million top prize. Now beginning the third year, 76West aims to attract and grow at least 24 clean energy startups and connect them to partners, investors, and customers in the region.

Liane is the Program Manager for CREA. She handles the Finances and is the Research Administrator for the Center. Liane has 15+ year of experience at Cornell in a number of financial and administrative roles, most recently as the Administrative Manager for the KAUST-CU Research Center.

She received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from American University in Washington, DC as well as her Bachelors in Government and Economics.

Outside of Cornell, she is the Chair for both the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Town of Veteran, NY.

Rena Scroggins

Rena Scroggins is the Competition Manager for the 76West Clean Energy Competition. Rena is part of the Southern Tier Startup Alliance (STSA), a member organization of business incubators who provide support to people starting and growing companies in the region. STSA is operating the competition under contract with the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Previous to this role, Rena was the owner and CEO of the Montrose Theatre, an independent movie and special events space, for eight years. She lives in Ithaca and enjoys the chaos of working out of Rev: Ithaca Startup Works.

Kristin Hopkins

Kristin Hopkins is the Events Manager for the Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA). She is responsible for the coordination and implementation of diverse entrepreneurship events at Rev: Ithaca Startup Works and for NYSERDA’s 76West Clean Energy Competition. In addition to events management, Kristin leads sponsorship initiatives and attraction at Rev.

Kristin holds a B.S. in Consumer Science from the University of Alabama. Away from the office, she is an active board member with organizations that support the Lansing School District and enjoys exploring Ithaca’s natural beauty with her family.

Bonnie Sanborn

Bonnie Sanborn is an interdisciplinary researcher and communications professional. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology and an M.Sc. in Environmental Psychology, with a focus on material culture, organizational behavior, and the built environment. At CREA, she manages all digital and print communications, creating content for CREA’s various social media channels and websites.

Bonnie also collaborates on the development of stories about CREA program success stories. As a researcher, Bonnie focuses on ways in which design can influence social interactions; she has helped to design Makerspaces and collaborative workspaces, educational spaces, and public spaces. Bonnie facilitates workshops on design thinking, space planning, and relationship-building on social media; she also serves on the space planning and social media sub-committees for the Environmental Design Research Association.

Adriana Condarco-Quesada

Adriana Condarco-Quesada is a Regional Economic Development Specialist at CREA. She guides and implements strategic economic development activities that strengthen and grow the entrepreneurship eco-system. She works closely with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) to support economic development projects that leverage research assets in the plant sciences, controlled environment agriculture, and food sciences.

Prior to joining Cornell University, Adriana worked in international development coordinating strategy development, international donor projects and providing research support to a variety of organizations including the United Nations Indonesia and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

Adriana completed a dual Master’s program in Public Administration and International Relations at Syracuse University and received her B.A. from the University of Richmond.

Caitlin Schickel

Caitlin Schickel is a Regional Economic Development Specialist for Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement. Responsible for collecting data on start-up activity in the Southern Tier and coordinating Cornell’s response to START-UP NY, Caitlin also helps out at REV when she can.

Caitlin, an Ithaca native, left to study urban development at Bryn Mawr College, but found herself back home after four years in Philadelphia. While new to the world of start-ups, she is excited to be a part of one of the organizations working to help revitalize Upstate New York.

Tom Schryver

Tom is the Executive Director of Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) and is a Visiting Lecturer at the Johnson Graduate School of Management. CREA’s programs include Rev: Ithaca Startup Works, the Southern Tier Startup Alliance, and support of Cornell’s regional economic advancement efforts. Tom leads the Upstate NY I-Corps Node, and is the lead instructor for Cornell Engineering’s Commercialization Fellows program. He serves on the teaching team for eLab, Cornell’s student business accelerator, and teaches entrepreneurship and business strategy at Cornell.

He is an experienced entrepreneur having served as a startup founder and senior finance executive of high-growth companies. Previously, he was Director of Finance for the Triad Foundation, where his responsibilities included investing the Foundation’s $250m portfolio to top-quartile returns. His board affiliations include the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park and Tompkins County Area Development, and as board vice-chair of the Business Incubator Association of New York State. Tom co-chairs the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council’s Innovation Culture workgroup.

Tom has an AB and MBA from Cornell, where he was a recipient of the MBA program’s Albert J. Fried Fellowship for Leadership and Academic Excellence. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Tony Frontera

Tony Frontera is a professor of entrepreneurship and marketing for the School of Management at Binghamton University and advisor for Binghamton Enactus, a student organization focused on entrepreneurial activities. Frontera served as an adjunct instructor and mentor for the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program.

Mr. Frontera is an Entrepreneur in Residence for the Southern Tier Startup Alliance, a member organization of business incubators, whose purpose is to provide support to entrepreneurs starting and growing businesses in the Southern Tier of NY. Tony mentors and coaches entrepreneurs and startups in the region and is frequently asked to speak about Branding and Positioning for different entrepreneurial organizations. Since 2016, Frontera serves as a mentor to finalist teams in NYSERDA’S 76W Clean Energy Competition.

Tony is a seasoned marketer and entrepreneur in the consumer electronics industry. He has over thirty years of marketing strategy, business strategy, business development and consumer communication experience at both his own retail business and mid-sized corporations. Frontera served in marketing management and business development capacities at McIntosh Laboratory, Inc., where he was responsible for branding, distribution strategy and customer communication in the luxury consumer electronics industry. Previous to this, Mr. Frontera held positions as; CEO, Manager of Business Development, Northeast Regional Training Manager, and Account Manager for companies in the Photographic and Printing industries.

Mr. Frontera volunteers his time for the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs of Binghamton and currently serves as President of the board. He also serves on the Board of GHS Federal Credit Union. Frontera holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Binghamton University.

Ken Rother

Ken Rother is the Director of Rev as well as its Hardware Entrepreneurship program. He is the Managing Director of Cornell’s eLab student accelerator program, teaches entrepreneurship at the Johnson School, instructs and coaches in several technology commercialization programs including NSF I-Corps, and is a Venture Partner at Cayuga Venture Fund.

Ken has held multiple senior business and technical positions for organizations such as Discovery Communications, Reuters, Matrox, and the Toronto Stock Exchange. He has direct startup experience having co-founded a software business in Toronto and joining an early stage online media business in New York, both of these startups concluded with successful exits.

Most recently Ken was the Senior Vice President of Digital Media at Discovery.

Brian Bauer

Brian Bauer is the Program Director for clean energy programs with Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement. Brian runs 76West, NYSERDA’s clean energy business competition, and he is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the Southern Tier Startup Alliance, a member organization of incubators across the Southern Tier which is a collaboration between Cornell, Binghamton University, and Corning Enterprises.

Brian is a seasoned international energy industry executive with extensive experience in Oil, Natural Gas, Chemicals, and renewables in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Brian ran several international businesses during a 30-year career in the energy industry and has expertise in operations, strategy, business development, mergers and acquisitions, major project management, corporate governance and organizational change.

Brian has a B.S. In Chemical Engineering from Cornell and an MBA in Operations and Finance from the University of Chicago. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Brian lectures at Cornell and serves on the Board of the Paleontological Research Institute, which includes the Museum of the Earth and the Cayuga Nature Center, both near Ithaca.

Brad Treat

Brad is a career entrepreneur with an emphasis on technology-driven companies. Brad was most recently the Founding CEO of Mezmeriz, a high-tech company making interactive projectors and reality capture cameras to embed into mobile phones. Mezmeriz is based on patented MEMS technology developed by company co-founder Shahyaan Desai at Cornell. Previously, he was the Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Cornell University.

Brad was also the co-founder and CEO of SightSpeed, an innovative video and voice communications company. Together with co-founders Aron Rosenberg and Cornell Professor Toby Berger, Brad grew SightSpeed from a university research project into the world’s premier video calling software. SightSpeed was profitably acquired by Logitech for $30M.

Earlier in his career, Brad worked for eight years in the automotive industry in both the US and Spain at Bowles Fluidics and GKN Automotive. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State, and an MBA from the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell.

Brad lives in Ithaca, New York. He is faculty at Johnson at Cornell, Cornell Engineering, and Ithaca College teaching practical entrepreneurship, empathetic leadership, and project management. With the loving support of his wife Kristin and sideways looks from his children, he competes in long-distance triathlons in the “Clydesdale” division, has done a few Ironman triathlons, and has finished a handful of marathons without walking.